Lightning Eyeing Return to Playoffs in Shortened Season

Saturday

Jan 19, 2013 at 1:13 AM

Steven Stamkos knows reaching 60-goals again will be unlikely in this year's abbreviated 48-game season. But the Tampa Bay center feels the Lightning returning to the playoffs is well within reach in the lockout-curtailed campaign.

But the Tampa Bay center feels the Lightning returning to the playoffs is well within reach in the lockout-curtailed campaign.

"Getting into the playoffs, that's our goal here," Stamkos said. "We want to be a playoff team. It's going to be a different year. It's a sprint. You've got to get off to a good start."

Stamkos had an NHL-best 60 goals when the Lightning, one year removed from reaching the Eastern Conference finals, missed out on postseason play last season.

"After last year, we were very disappointed," Stamkos said. "This league is about consistency. You have to find a way that, if things aren't going well, you don't let it slide. Last year we were guilty of that. We can't take anything for granted."

"Obviously, we want to get into the playoffs," St. Louis said. "Get better as the year goes on, and be at the top of our game when playoffs start. I'm excited about our team, obviously."

Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher expects the fine-tuning to be somewhat off for all teams early on, but doesn't feel intensity will be an issue.

"I feel that 48 games is plenty of time to have some ups and some downs, and to manage them," Boucher said. "I think there's going to be ups and downs like every season, but obviously you don't want to have a lull that lasts too long because you'll probably be out of the playoffs.

"So definitely there's going to be urgency from the first game, first period until the last one," Boucher added. "The players are aware of it, we're aware if it, but I think it's going to be good for the fans. I think the intensity of the games can be extremely high. I think the main part is that there's going to be so much intensity in those games it's going to be very, very interesting."

The NHL also played a 48-game season following a lockout in the 1994-95 season, when Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman was a star with the Detroit Red Wings.

"What really stood out to me that year was, it was like playoffs from Day 1," Yzerman said. "You played virtually every second day. You're always preparing for a game. There was no breaks in the schedule. It's a playoff kind of atmosphere. It was enjoyable. We played a lot of games. You didn't practice a whole lot. You were always on the go. Every game takes on even more importance."

The Lightning host the Washington Capitals in the regular-season opener on tonight.

"This one we had to wait for," Tampa Bay chairman Jeff Vinik said. "Steve Yzerman's had a great offseason, and we're thrilled the puck drops" Saturday.

— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

3

Bruiser Earns Spot

Truth be told, forward Pierre-Cedric Labrie was worried about how to make an impression at Lightning training camp.

Even so, after 14 NHL games last season, Tampa Bay coaches knew what Labrie can bring and wanted it on the roster for tonight's opener at home against the Washington Capitals.

"I'm never going to take it for granted," Labrie said of the promotion from AHL Syracuse. " Just work and try to get better every day."

LW Cory Conacher and D Keith Aulie, also promoted from Syracuse, filled out the Lightning's 23-player roster as the team finished four days of workouts at Germain Arena.

Aulie, 23, was not a surprise. Coach Guy Boucher regularly plays seven defensemen, so keeping him as an eighth is good insurance against injury. There also likely was some concern the 6-6, 217-pounder would be claimed if exposed to waivers to reassign him to Syracuse.

Conacher, too, was expected. He was the final cut last season, was the 2011-12 AHL rookie of the year and this week played exclusively on a line with C Vinny Lecavalier and Teddy Purcell.

Demotions

Forwards Mike Angelidis, Kyle Wilson and J.T. Wyman and D Matt Taormina are on waivers to be reassigned to Syracuse. … F Tyler Johnson, who leads Syracuse with 20 goals and 35 points, and defensemen Mark Barberio and Radko Gudas did not need to clear waivers and were reassigned to the Crunch. Later, Johnson, Barberio and Syracuse RW Richard Panik were named AHL All-Stars.

Bonding

A Wednesday beach volleyball tournament followed by a yoga session as the sun set were the last activities used by players to promote team chemistry during their trip to southwest Florida.